Reviews by ngandhi:

Smells of mellowed currant and berries. The aroma is well-integrated, making it difficult to distinguish the fruits. Malt-heavy; minute citrus.

The fruit continues to develop on the tongue. I tried long and hard to pinpoint these flavors and found it nearly impossible. Ommegang might have created another flavor here. It develops from ripe grape to currants, light raspberry and pears. The pear flavor comes somewhere in the malts because it's detectable within the body; it doesn't develop until you let this stuff really coat your tongue.

The finish is dry; as some have said, of wine. It briefly redevelops into sweeter fruits and leaves an ultimate aftertaste of sugary (not roasted) malt. Not unlike port.

This, my first beer from Brewery Ommegang, has a great deal of character. I'm left both confused and intrigued. There is quite a kick to it; the phenolic notes are very pronounced and often smoky. I think it lacks balance and the alcoholic taste detracts from the end product. That said, Ommegang carries 8.5% abv so I can at least understand.

Ommegang is a beer of wonderful depth that I might have to come back to some day. For now, it doesn't carry enough complexity to actually allow the medicinal islay smoke. Many of you will not find that aspect overpowering; perhaps it isn't, but I find it inappropriate.

Regarding drinkability, it's not that Ommegang is too strong to drink often, it's that you can tell it's too strong. I have to hold myself back from getting ploughed on delicious Unibroues, Dreadnaughts, and Duvels; they are more delicately crafted.

According to the bottle, Ommegang is age-worthy -- I'd be interested to see what this beer would do in a year or two. The phenols and fruits are not fully integrated (as they are in, say, Duvel or Fin du Monde). Perhaps some cellaring would do it some good. If you do it or have done it, please let me know how it is.

More User Reviews:

Enjoying this in my Ommegang goblet...A - Pours a dark reddish brown with 1/2" head of tight bubbles that settles quickly to a tan cap.S - Aroma is not as strong as you might expect or hope for. A little bit of dark fruit perhaps.T - Maybe some wine, definitely dark cherry notes. A little bit of spice too. M - Medium mouth feel and very carbonated.O - This might be my favorite of the Ommegang offerings. Very enjoyable and reasonably priced. Do yourself a favor and let this one warm up - don't drink it straight out of the fridge. (540 characters)

Pours an opaque bronze with burnt orange highlights and a a good finger's worth of fine khaki foam--just beautiful to behold. Rich aroma smells of molasses, prunes, cherries, clove, coriander, brown sugar, toasted bread, and a hint of alcohol.

The bold and complex flavor profile features molasses, toasted bread, cherry, and plenty of tangy, vigorous yeast. The spices and robust carbonation do more than enough to balance the malty backbone. The yeast presence pushes the envelope a bit, but manages to remain just under control. The mouthfeel is lush, vibrant, and a solid complement to the taste.

Overall, this is a bold and flavorful brew that isn't as decidedly sweet as most of its peers. Its balance and gorgeous presentation make it one of my preferred dubbels, even though it isn't an archetypal representation of the style. (836 characters)

Real nice burgundy in color with a great head,with nice Belgian lace left there.Somewhat medicinal in aroma with a little bit of fruit showing up there.Taste was sweet the some chesnut in there as well incredible smooth,the alcohol showed up fast as well.Became stronger as it warmed,about as authentic as you can get,the know what they are doing up there in Cooperstown. (371 characters)

Dark brown pour with a rich tan head. Nice liveliness and lacing. The nose mildly sweet with hints of prune and fig and there is an evident pinch of spice in the mix as well. The taste starts lightly earthy and build up towards a semi sweetness that includes dull black licorice, molasses and prune/raisin. On the finish there also seems to be a tart woodiness that creeps in ever so slightly. A good mouthfeel that is lively and medium bodied. A subtle version of a strong dark Belgian that does a good job in remaining well balanced without being over the top. (562 characters)

A great beer, and an amazing value at $3.50 for a 750 ml bottle. Pours a beautiful semi-opaque reddish-brown with a nice fluffy, sticky beige head. Very potent! Smells and tastes of fruit (apples, raisins...). Dangerously good. I just had a whole bottle to myself, and I don't particularly feel like moving! (307 characters)

Smell  Lovely aroma of dark malts with lots of sugar. The dates, plums, ripe apricots, and cherries are just a few of the fruits that came out first. These were complimented with raw and brown sugars and a touch of alcohol.

Taste  Beautiful sweet taste of roasted malts, the ripe, rich fruits from the nose, and tons of sugar. Molasses finds its way in this concoction along with some maple and cane sugar. The alcohol is present but complimentary, not overpowering to the drinker.

Mouthfeel  Medium carbonation and very full in the mouth. This one is bite-sized and chewy.

Drinkability  There was a hint of licorice at the tongue that I didnt care for, otherwise this was a terrific BSDA.

Update  After having a few of these over the last year I decided to re-review it for 2004. I seem to have gotten used to the light licorice flavor at the finish of this ale so upped the Drinkability rating from 4.0 to 4.5. (1,009 characters)

Ommegang opens like a fine champagne. This is the first great thing about the beer. Popping a bottle of bubbly is always a blast. Sure you can be a wuss and hold a towel over the cork but who doesnt like to send a little piece of wood flying across the room or straight up in to your vaulted cathedral ceiling.

The next step doesnt disappoint either. The head is a rich brown color and lasts and lasts and lasts. One thing that I like about Ommegangs bottles is that they print pouring instructions that are specific to each individual beer. Ommegang is meant to be consumed in a goblet and should be poured carefully because of the richness of the head. I prefer to drink it out of a snifter because it really brings out Ommegangs best trait, its nose.

Aromas of caramel apples and brown sugar instantly fill the room when you open a bottle. A lot of beers can create such poignant aromas but few can make them last longer than a few seconds after opening, and even fewer have a taste that matches their nose. Ommegangs flavor is just as full as its wonderful scent.

The first sip of the sienna colored liquid offers a fruit forward POW to the palate of chocolate-covered cherries, figs, and raisins. Spiced rum and mild anise follow and it finishes with an orange tobacco that grows increasingly more citrus full as the beer warms.

Despite its relative strength (8.5%), and bold flavors, Ommegang is not intimidating like most other Belgians. Its incredibly smooth and cohesive putting its drinkability right through the roof. Anyone who can enjoy a middle of the road ale like New Castle should be able to tolerate and eventually learn to love not only the Ommegang but other strong Belgians as well. For the seasoned beer drinker, Ommegangs appeal will be immediate. (1,800 characters)

I bought the 12oz bottle version (they also have a 750ml corked bottle version). I served it in a tall wheat beer glass. This beer pours a beautiful reddish brown color. The flavor of this beer is mysterious at times but it is delicious. It is so smooth and the mouth feel is fantastic. The beer itself says that it is brewed with licorice root, star anise, sweet orange peel, coriander, and cumin. Imagine all those flavors then imagine it tasting nothing like that. When I think of licorice root and star anise I think of a very powerful and unique flavor. This beer is so expertly crafted that you can't pinpoint anyone of those flavors. It is balanced so well, everything just meshes together into one pleasant taste. This beer is malted, tastes like dark fruits, it has hardly any detectable bitter hops present at all (its malty), its not overly sweet, but you will taste a slight zing from the alcohol (its 8.2%). The alcohol can be tasted but it is not overwhelming.

Quite frankly this beer is a masterpiece. If you are a hop hater (like I am) you will most likely enjoy this beer. This is a malty beer all the way. It is light and freshening. I see this as a beer that can be enjoyable all year round.

A: A slightly hazy dark copper with a reddish hue. The off-white head of creamy bubble quickly settles to a a ring and a thin cap of bubbles. The head should be fuller and longer lasting for the style and clarity is optional.

S: Light caramel and cocoa malt notes blend with a soft alcohol. Dark fruit aromas grow in strength as the beer warms, mostly raisins and prunes. There is a slight spicy spicy aroma and mild apple esters from the yeast also show as it warms.

T: Caramel, cocoa, raisins and prunes provided the dominate aromas with moderate clove-like spice. There is a moderate hops bitterness and no hops flavors. The balance is spicy and malty but drying out to an off-dry finish with lingering bitterness and spice.

M: Medium full bodied with high carbonation. There is substantial belly warming alcohol with out being hot.

O: A rich complex Dubbel with dark fruit, malt and spice running the show. Year ago this Ommegang beer introduced me to the world of flavorful beers with layers of flavor ultimately saving me from a life of wine snobbery. (1,064 characters)

Poured a large foamy white head atop dark burgundy liquid. Took a while for the head to come down with very nice carbonation lacing on the glass. Making me thirsty just looking at it. First smell was of alcohol and fruit. A little like fruit cake made with rum. First flavor was sweet and dark malt. Alcohol is balanced and with fruity maltiness(is that a word?) but the warmth is spreading nicely down my arms. Minor hop notes at the finish.

The problem is the more I taste the less I like it. There is a medicinal and copper metallic flavor that comes forward as the beer warms. Stange beer to me. I taste different flavors with each sip but I don't care for the flavors that are coming to the forefront as when I tasted it at first. Good elements but I don't think I'll buy it again. A steal though at 6 bucks. (815 characters)

S: Sweet fruity malt smell, like figs or perhaps brown sugar. Hops are there but faint with a sort of earthy tone.

T: Complex mix of malt sweetness with hops. Not quite balanced in flavor tipping toward the malty goodness. Flavors stay together solidly through the experience ending with a hint of malt sweetness.

M&D: Mouthfeel is awesome utilizing good medium body and carbonation that makes the whole experience creamy and smooth. The whole package makes for very good drinkability. An excellent example of the style! (699 characters)